Inductees accepted into Washington Hall of Merit

A lifelong advocate for the Chinese community in San Francisco, a world-renowned immigration law expert with a compelling personal immigration history, and an Armenian flower seller with an intriguing side job are the three distinguished George Washington High School alumni selected for induction into the school's inaugural Hall of Merit on May 20.

Alan Wong, class of spring 1949, has been a community advocate even prior to Washington, where he organized events for Asian students. After a brief stint as a youth counselor, he worked at various YMCA branches, ultimately becoming executive director of the Chinatown branch. He co-founded Self Help for the Elderly, ASIAN, Inc. and the S.F. Chinese Cultural Center. He was also Self Help for the Elderly's executive director and later served as executive director of the Chinatown Economic Development Center.

Hiroshi Motomura, spring '70, is a scholar and teacher of immigration and citizenship law. He co-authored two casebooks and his 2006 book "Americans in Waiting" was placed on the U.S. State Department's suggested reading list for foreign service officers and won the Professional and Scholarly Publishing Award from the Association of American Publishers as the year's best book in law and legal studies. He is a member of the American Bar Association's Commission on Immigration,and was appointed as an advisor to the Obama-Biden transition team.

Albert Nalbandian, fall '39, has made contributions to two very different fields. As the owner and operator of a Geary and Stockton Street flower stand adjacent to the Louis Vuitton store (the former I. Magnin) for more than 50 years, Nalbandian has become a legendary San Francisco fixture. When former Richmond District Supervisor Jake McGoldrick proposed changes to the flower stand permitting process last year to the detriment of Nalbandian and other long-time sellers, the City rose to their defense. Yet his professional life has included more than fragrant blooms. After earning a drama degree at the University of San Francisco, he had a successful career as a character actor, with memorable roles as hearty-handshaking Hank Anderson in "American Graffiti."

These accomplished Washington High graduates will join the 80 alumni who have been enshrined in the Hall of Merit in two different ceremonies. The GWHS Alumni Association invites the public to the inaugural Hall of Merit Induction Dinner at The Cliff House's Terrace Room. No-host cocktails begin at 6 p.m., followed by a dinner and program. Alumni Association president and radio host John Rothmann will be the evening's master of ceremonies.

Dinner seats may be purchased at Brown Paper Tickets at (800) 838-3006 or at the Web site www.brownpapertickets.com. Complete information about the Hall of Merit dinner, other alumni-related events, and Alumni Association membership are regularly updated on the Alumni Association's Web site at http://sfportal.sfusd.edu/sites/washington.

For more information, call (415) 750Ð8400.